Comb-making machine



(NoModeI.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. H. WELLS.

00MB MAKING MACHINE. No. 498,831.1 PatentedJune 6, 1893.

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No. 498,831. Patented June 6, 1893.`

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ff n www. l @70W/jf. well@ UnirrEn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN HENRY WELLS, OF FALL RIVER, MASSACHUSETTS.

COME-MAKING wwwa-HNE.V

SPECIFICATION forming part of i Letters Patent No. 498,831, dated Tune 6, 1893.

Application filed May 27, 1892. `Serial No. 434,600. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom t may con/ceri@ Be it known that I, J oHN HENRY WELLs,of Fall River, county of Bristol, State ot' Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Comb-Making Machines,of which the follow` ing description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters and figures on the drawings representing like parts.

This inven tion has for its obj ect to construct a machine for the production of metallic combs.

In accordance with this invention the wire from which the teeth of the comb are to be cut is fed into the machine through suitable straightening and feeding devices and is automatically severed Vin to proper lengths for the teeth of the comb to be produced, the tooth blanks thus severed, dropping into grooves in the periphery of a carrier, preferably a rotating wheel comprising two members, the ends of the blanks projecting laterally beyond the carrier at one side, so that as the carrier moves past an abrading surface it will canse the projecting ends of the blanks to be moved in contact with, and be rounded or sharpened by said abrading surface. A`

friction surface or surfaces act upon one or both sides of the tooth-blanks in the carrier as the latter moves the blanks past the abrading surface, the-said friction surface or surfaces acting'to roll the tooth-blanks in their respective grooves in the carrier at the same time that the latter moves the blanks over the abrading surface, the ends of the toothblanks being thus rounded or sharpened uniformly. Vhen the carrierconsists of a wheel comprising` two members, the friction surface acting upon the under sides of the tooth blanks will preferably consist of a wheel mounted between the two members of the carrier and caused to rotate in one or the other direction at a high rate of speed to thereby roll the blanks in their grooves, and

co-operating with this inner friction surface will be a moving belt acting upon the exterior of the tooth-blanks to constitute an outer friction surface, the two friction surfaces moving in opposite directions to cause rapid rotation of the tooth-blanks in the grooves of the carrier. After having their ends rounded in this manner, the blanks are dropped by the carrier into a suitablehopper from which they are picked one at a time by av moving holder, the said holder also picking from another hopper the larger end teeth for the comb, the teeth thus taken by the holder being held in proper position with relation to each other to receive the U-shaped back, which latter is automatically pressed upon the ends ot' the teeth at the proper time by mechanism to be hereinafter described.

One part of this invention therefore consists in a machine for making combs containing the following instru mentalities, viz:- wire-feedingand cuttingoff devices; ahopper to receive the tooth-blanks thus cut; and a holder adapted to be moved beneath the outlet of the hopper to receive therefrom and retain the tooth-blanks singly, substantially as will be described. Also, a machine for making combs containing thefollowing instrumentali ties,viz:-wire-feeding andcutting off devices, a carrier to receive the tooth-blanks and discharge them into a hopper, and a holder adapted to move beneath the outlet of the hopper and provided with grooves which as they pass beneath the said outlet receive the planks singly therefrom,substantially as Will be described. Also, a machine for making combs containing the following instrumentalities, viz:wirefeeding and cutting off devices, a carrier to receive the tooth-blanks and discharge the same into a hopper, and a holder adapted to move beneath the outlet of the hopper to receive the tooth-blanks singly therefrom, and also to receive from a separate hopper the end teeth of the comb, substantially as will be described.

Other features of this invention will be hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims.

Figure l represents in side elevation a machine embodying this invention; Fig. 2, a right-hand end view of the same; Fig. 3, a detail of the cutting-off mechanism showing the same from the rear side of the machine; Fig. et, a detail of the clutch feed mechanism; Fig. 5, a section through the hopper showing the holder beneath it; Fig. 6, an enlarged horizontal section on the dotted line .fc-90, Fig. 1; Fig. 7, a plan View of the holder and clamping device; Fig. 8, a perspective view of a portion of the holder holding the teeth with the back pressed upon the ends of the teeth; and Fig. 8 is a side and end elevation of the abrading surface and support. Fig. 9 shows a sectional detail of the hopper containing the comb-backs, the section being taken on the line y-y, Fig. 6. Fig. 10 shows a completed comb; Fig. 1l, a detail of the carrier; Fig. 12, a sectional view of the same on the dotted line g/-g/, of Fig. 11.

Referring to the drawings, the frame A of suitable shape and construction to sustain the working parts, has bearings for the main shaft a, provided at one end with a driving or clutch pulley d. A bevel gear Wheel b fast on the driving shaft a, meshes with and drives a bevel gearb on a short shaft b2, journaled in a bracket secured to the frame, said shaft b2 being provided with a crank b3 to which is jointed one end of the feed rod b4, jointed at its opposite end to the arm b5 of the clutch disk b, having in its periphery a series of inclined surfaces between which and the interior surface of the surrounding clutch case 117 are interposed several clutch rolls bsx, shown in dotted lines Fig. 4. The clutch U is mounted to rotate in suitable bearings and has a groove formed in its periphery which co-operates with the periphery of the feed Wheel bs journaled in a bracket on the frame to feed the wire from which the teeth of the comb are formed. Reciprocation of the arm b5 by the rod b4, acts to move the feed wheels 117, bs, intermittingly to feed the wire to the cutting die to be there severed into proper lengths for thecomb teeth. After passing between the feed wheels, the wire is'passed through the steel cutting die c, Fig. 8, across the end of which is moved the steel cutter c on the dog c2, pivoted at c3 to the bracket which carries the die c, the tail of the dog being acted upon at the proper time by a cam c4 on the shaft a, Fig. 11, and lifted to cause the cutter c to move across the end of the cutting die 'c and sever the wire into a length suitable to constitute a tooth. The lengths of wire or tooth-blanks thus severed drop into a small hopper dx', Fig. 3, passing singly therefrom into grooves d' in the carrier, the latter consisting as herein shown of a wheel d comprising two like members 5, 6, the grooves d being cut in the periphery of each, the said carrier being mounted on a shaft d2 journaled in the frame, said shaft having a worm wheel d3 driven by a worm d4 on the diagonal shaft d5 provided at its upper end with a bevel gear d in mesh with and driven by a bevel gear @Z7 on the mainV shaft a.

A friction wheelj is arranged between the members 5, 6, of the carrier d, and is journaled upon the extended hubs of the latter, the said wheel j having a rubber or other frictional surface j which constitutes one of the friction surfaces, vim-the inner surface which acts upon the tooth-blanks in the grooves of the carrier to cause rotation of the blanks in their grooves as they are moved over the abrading surface.

In the present instance a friction wheel j2, see Fig. 1.1, on the main shaft a of the machine, acts upon the surface of the friction Wheel to rotate the latter in the same direction as and at a higher speed than the carrier d.

A pulley e fast on the main shaft ct is connected by a cross belt with a pulley e on one end of a shaft e2 journaled in bearings in the frame, said shaft having fast upon its opposite end a pulleyf connected by a beltf with a pulley f2 journaled in a bracket on the frame, said belt running between the niembers 5, 6, of the carrier CZ and in frictional contact with the tooth-blanks carried in the grooves in the said carrier. The belt f constitutes the second friction surface for the tooth-blanks and is driven in the direction of the arrow 1, Fig. 1, opposite to the direc tion in Which the inner friction surface j is driven, the two co-operating to rotate the tooth-blanks in the grooves of the carrier as described.

A ring plate dx is applied to the outside of one of the members of the carrier d, as the member 5, which ring plate closes the grooves d and prevents endwise movement of the tooth blanks While the latter are being moved over the abrading surface.

H represents an abrading surface of emery or other substance, upon the upper side of a block H lying adjacent to and curved to correspond with the curved periphery of the wheel d and supported by a suitable bracket attached to the frame of the machine, the ends of the blanks being moved over this surface by the rotating wheel d to thereby sharpen or round said ends. Emery or other abrading cloth or paper may be stretched over said block H', the ends thereof being turned under the block and clamped by the plate h and screws h see Figs. 1 and 8% The Wire taken from a suitable reel is carried to the feed wheels through any suitable straightening device, not shown, the feed wheels moved by the clutch arm b5, feeding the wire forward intermittingly through the cutting die c when it is severed by the cutter c in proper lengths for teeth, each length of wire or tooth-blank thus severed, dropping into a pair of grooves in the members of the carrier d with one end projecting over at one side of the wheel.

The carrier d, moving in the direction opposite to the arrow 2, Fig. 1, and carrying the tooth-blanks dropped one by one into its grooves, carries said blanks forward beneath the belt f', which moves in the direction of the arrow 1, Fig. 1, opposite to the direction.

of movement of the wheel d, and over the wheel j, moving in the same direction as the carrier. y

The action of the beltf and wheelj on the blanks carried by the wheel CZ, is such as to IOO give to the blanks arolling motion in their respective grooves, so that as the projecting" ends of these rolling blanks pass over the abrading surface H the said ends will be uniformly rounded or sharpened thereby and left in suitable condition to be assembled in a comb. The Wires after passing over the abrading surface Hare dropped by the wheel d into a suitable hopper m, having a narrow outlet m of sufficient width only to permit the escape of a single blank ata time. The blanks drop down into the outlet m', as shown in Fig. 5, and rest upon the smooth surface of a holder n, provided at intervals With grooves n (see Fig.`8) spaced to correspond With the desired separation of the teeth of the completed comb, the said holder-at or near its opposite ends being also provided with suitablyshaped grooves or depressions to receive the usual Wider end teeth or ends of the comb, said end teeth being arranged in the hoppers r arranged at opposite sides of and close to the hopper m referred to. A handle K projects from the rear side of and is rigidly connected tothe holder n, see Figs. 2 and 7, and a clamping device is pivoted to said handle, it consisting of a flat baror plate nx connected to the outer end of a yokeK, pivoted at K2 to the handle. During the delivery of the blanks to the holder the clamp bar nx is` raised, as shown in Fig. 2, but when all the blanks are in place the said bar is turned down into the position shown in Figs. '7 and 8, retaining the blanks in the grooves of the holder with their ends projecting, the bar being held in' place by a spring clip l3 engaging the yoke, as shown in Fig. 7. After the tooth-blanks have been inserted in the back, as will be described, the holder and comb may be removed from the machine bodily. This holder rests in a carriage 0, mounted to slide on a guide bar o', having a pin o Which enters a slot o2x in one end of a connecting rod 02, provided at its oppositeend with a slot 020, see dotted lines in Fig. l, to receive the crank pin o3X on the crank o3, fast on a shaft 04 journaled in bearings in the frame and provided With a pulley o5 driven by a suitable belt not shown. Rotationof the crank acts through the rod 02 to reciprocate the carriage o, the slots oX and o2O in the ends of the rod o2, causing the carriage to remain stationary for a moment at the end of each reciprocation to permit removal of a holder and the substitution of another holder. The crank pin 03X is made adjustable on the crank o3 in usual manner by a slot and set nut, as shown by dotted lines Fig. l, to permit the stroke of the crank and the length of reciprocation of the carriage to be varied for different lengths of combs. The carriage o'also has mounted upon it a receptacle s,V

shown in section in Fig. 9, whichreceptacle contains the U-shaped backs for the combs, said backs being arranged vertically one upon another as shown. This receptacle is made removable to permit substitution of a recep- `its dotted line to its full line position Fig. 6

tacle of different size for backs of different lengths. A pusher s is arranged to move in `a plane with the lowermost back in the receptacle, said pusher being actuated by movement of the toggle-links s2, see Fig. 6, pivoted `at their outer ends to fixed brackets s3 standlingback from the carriage o. The toggle links are moved to push the pusher s forward, by a rod s4 jointed to the links s2 at their adjacent ends, said rod s4 during reciprocating movement of the carriage striking alternately the fixed adjustable abutments s, s6, on the frame, said abutments acting through said rod to move the toggle links from their full to their dotted line positions Fig. 6, and vice-versa. As the carriage o is Areciprocated, the holder n carried by it, is

moved beneath and in contact With the lower ends of the hoppers m and r, and, assuming the carriage to be moving in the direction of `the arrow 3 Fig. 1,-as'the holder passes beneath the outlet of the first hopper r containing the end teeth of the comb, the lowermost end tooth in the hopper will dropinto the reinto the grooves in the holder as the said grooves arrive beneath the outlet of the .hop-- per until all the grooves in the holder are filled, and as the last grooves in the holder are receiving their `teeth from the hopper m, the end recess upon the rear end of the holder for the end tooth on the opposite end of the comb arrives beneath the hopper r. and receives therefrom the second end tooth for the comb, the said end teeth being previously arranged alternately in the said hopper to face in opposite directions, so that first a tooth will drop out facing in one direction for one end of the comb, the next tooth facing in an opposite direction for the opposite` end of the comb. The holder has now receivcdit-s end and intermediate teeth from their respective hoppers and the clamp bar Will be turned down upon the top of the holder, as described, and further movement of the carriage in the direction of the arrow 3, Fig. l Will cause the rod s4 on the carriage to strike against the abutment S5 and be `moved from i straightel'ring the toggle links s2 by such movements, and causing the pusher s to be moved bodily forward against the lowermost comb back contained in the receptacle s, to push said back out from the receptacle and upon the ends of the comb teeth projecting from and held by the holder, the said push bar beingby the same movement again Withdrawn to its rearmost position to permit a new comb back to drop down into position to be forced out in a similar manner in the formation of a new comb. The holder now holding the IOO IZO

handle K andthe back immersed in solder that the solder may run into the back about the ends of the teeth to hold the latter firmly in place or the said teeth may be otherwise soldered or attached to the back to form a complete comb, as shown in Fig. 10.

When the holder is removed from the carriage, a new empty holder with the clamp bar raised is placed upon the carriage, and upon the return movement of the latter moving in a direction opposite to the arrow 3, Fig. l to the position shown in full lines Fig. 1, the grooves in the holder will be filled with teeth in precisely the same manner as before except that the hopper r at the opposite s'rde of the hopper m will now operate to till the end recesses of the holder with the end teeth of the comb. As the carriage moves the holder beneath the hoppers and all the grooves or recesses are filled with teeth, further movement of the hopper in this direction will cause the rod s4 to strike against the abutment s6 to push the rod to the left Fig. 6, straighten the toggle links s2, force the lowermost back in the receptacle s upon the ends of the teeth held by the holder, and again Withdraw the push bar in precisely the manner hereinbefore described.

In the operation of the machine one of the hoppers r fills the recesses for the end teeth when the holder is moving in one direction While the other hopper r fills the said recesses when the holder is moving in an opposite direction, the recesses thus filled by the first hopper preventing the teeth contained in the opposite hopper from dropping out, while the holder is passing beneath it, the end teeth being arranged in their respective hoppers facing alternately in opposite directions, as they should face in the completed comb. The rod s4 striking one of the abutments when the carriage is moving in one direction is moved first to push the back upon the teeth and is thereafter further moved to Withdraw the push bar in readiness to push a new back forward, the rod in every case being left in proper position to be acted upon by the other abutment upon the return movement of the carriage, each abutment moving the rod into position to be acted upon by the other upon the next subsequent movement. The smooth surface of the holder moving beneath and wiping the lower end of the outlet m of the hopper m prevents the teeth or blanks from dropping out from the hopper except when a groove arrives beneath the outlet, when the lowermost blank drops into the groove; the smooth surface of the holder preventing the remaining blanks in the hopper from falling until the next or other grooves arrive beneath the outlet, so that the desired spacing of the teeth may be controlled or determined by properly spacing the grooves in the holder.

The length of the comb teeth may be varied by varying the feed.

This invention is not limited to the particular construction of machine herein represented, as the same maybe varied withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention.

This invention is not limited to the particular construction shown for the pusheror feeder for the comb backs as the same will be within the scope of my invention so long as it is adapted to act against and push the backs on to the teeth.

Either of the friction surfaces may be omitted if desired, and the one used may be stationary, the movement of the carrier being depended upon to roll the blanks.

I claim- 1. In a machine for making combs, the'combination of the following instrumentalities, vizz-a tooth-blank receiving hopper having a delivery outlet at its lower end, a holder reci procable below the said outlet to receive the blanks and retain them thereon side by side, and means to alternately cover and uncover the hopper outlet whereby the tooth blanks are discharged singly, substantially as described.

2. In a machine for making combs, the combination of the following instrumentalities, viz: wire-feeding and cutting off devices; an abrasive surface; a carrier to receive the toothblanks thus cut, move them in contact with said abrasive surface and discharge them into a hopper, and a holder to receive the toothblanks singly from said hopper, substantially as described.

3. In a machine for making combs, the combination of the following instrumentalities, viz: wire-feeding and cutting off devices; a carrier to receive the tooth-blanks thus cut and discharge the same into ahopper, an abrasive surface to act upon the ends of said blanks as they are conveyed to the hopper, a belt in contact with said blanks and traveling in a direction opposite that of the carrier to give to the blanks a rolling motion, and a holder to receive the blanks singly, substantially as described.

4. In a machine for making combs, the combination of thefollowing instrumentalities, viz: wire-feeding and cutting o devices; a movable carrier to receive the tooth-blanks and hold the same projecting at one side beyond the face of the carrier, an abrasive surface to act upon the projecting ends of the blanks as they are moved by the carrier, a belt to give to the blanks a rolling motion, a hopper to receive the blanks from the carrier, and a holder to take the blanks singly from the hopper, substantially as described.

5. In va machine for making combs, the conibination of the following instrumentalities, viz: wire-feeding and cutting off devices, a carrier to receive the tooth-blanks and discharge them into a hopper, and a .holder adapted to move beneath the outlet of the hopper and provided with grooves which vas they pass beneath the said outlet receive the blanks singly therefrom, substantially as described.'

6. In a machine for making combs, the com- IOO IIO

bination of the following instrnmentalities, viz: wire-feeding and cutting off devices, a carrier to receive the tooth-blanks and discharge `them into Aa hopper, and a holder adapted to move `beneath the outlet of the hopper and provided with grooves which as they pass beneath the said outlet receive the blanks singly therefrom, and a clamping device to clamp the blanks in said holder with their ends projecting to receive the 'back of the comb, substantially as described.

'7. In a machine for making combs, the combination of the following instrumentalities, viz: wire-feeding and cutting off devices, a carrier to receive the tooth-blanks and discharge them into a hopper, and acarriage reciprocated beneath the outlet of the hopper and upon which may be placed a holder to pick the blanks singly from the hopper as` it moves beneath the outlet of the same, substantially as described. l

8. In a machine for-.making combs, the combination of the following instrumentalities, viz: wire-feeding'andcutting off devices, a movable carrier provided with flanges, grooved to receive the tooth-blanks from the cutter, the grooves in one of the Hanges having closed ends to restrain the blanks from endwise movement and an abrasive surface to act upon the ends of the blanks to round the same, substantially as described.

9. In a machine for making combs, the combination of the following instrumentalities, vizz-a hopper to receive the toothblanks properly cut and formed, a movable holder to receive the tooth blanks singly from the hopper,a U -shaped back, and mechanism to automatically push the same upon the ends of the teeth or blanks projecting from the holder, substantially as described.

10. A machine for making combs containing the following instrumentalities, vim-a hopper to receive the tooth-blanks properly cut and formed, a holder adapted to move beneath said hopper and receive the blanks singly therefrom, a carriage for the holder, a receptacle movable with the holder and adapted to receive a number of comb backs, a pusher to push the lowermost of the said backs from the receptacle upon the ends of the tooth blanks projecting from the holder, and devices operated by movement of the carriage to actuate said pusher, substantially as described.

11. A machine for making combs containing the following instrumentalities, vizz-a hopper to receive the tooth-blanks properly cut and formed, a movable carriage, a holder thereon adapted to be moved beneath the outlet of said hopper and to receive the toothblanks singly therefrom, a receptacle movable with said carriage to receive the comb backs, a pusher to push the lowermost back therefrom onto the ends of the tooth-blanks, toggle links connected with and to actuate said pusher, and fixed abutmeuts to alternately comb arranged at opposite sides of the said 4 hopper m, the outlets of the three hoppers being adjacent to each other, a movable carriage, and a holder thereon provided with `grooves and recesses to receive from the said hoppers the end and intermediate teeth of the comb, substantially as described.

13. A machine for making combs containing the following` instrumentalities, vizz-a hopperl m to receive the tooth-blanks properly formed,.hoppers toreceive end teeth for the comb arranged at opposite sides of the said hopper m, the outlets of the three hoppers being adjacent to each other, a movable carriage, and a holder thereon provided with grooves and recesses to receive from the said hoppers the end and intermediate teeth of the comb, a receptacle movable with said carriage to receive the comb backs, a pusher to push the lowermost back therefrom upon the ends of `the blanks held by the holder, and means to actuate the said pusher, substantially as described.

14. In a machine for making combs, the combination of the following instrumentalities, vizz-wire-feeding and cutting off devices, a carrier to receive the tooth-blanks and discharge them into a hopper, a movable carriage to carry the holder which receives the tooth-blanks as they escape from the hopper, and a rod to reciprocate said carriage connected therewith by a pin and slot connection to maintain the carriage stationary at the end of each movement, substantially as described.

15. In a machine for making combs, the combinationof the following instrumentalities, vizz-wirefeeding and cutting off devices, a carrier to receive the tooth-blanks and discharge them into a hopper, a movable carriage to carrj7 the holder which receives the toothblanks as they escape from the hopper,and a crank having an adjustable crank pin` connected with and to actuate said carriage whereby the movement of the carriage may be varied, substantially as described.

16. In a machine for making combs, the combination of the following instrumentalities, vizzmwire feeding and cutting off devices, a hopper to receive the tooth-blanks thus severed, a carrier to receive the tooth-blanks singly from the said hopper, and discharge them into a second hopper, and a holder to receive the blanks singly from the latter hopper, substantially as described.

17. In a machinefor making combs, the combination of the following instrumentalities, vizz--wire feeding and cutting off devices; an abrasive surface, a carrier to convey the blanks in contact therewith, and friction surfaces to act upon opposite sides of the blanks ICO in the carrier to cause rotation of the blanks as they are moved over the said abrasive surface, substantially as described.

18. In a machine for making combs, the combination of the following instrumentalities, viZn-wire feeding and cutting olf devices, and an abrasive surface, a carrier to move the blanks in contact therewitli,said carrier comprising two members, and a friction surface to act upon the under sides of the blanks in the carrier between the two members thereof to cause rotation of the blanks as they are moved over the said abrasive surface, substantially as described.

I9. In a machine for making combs, the combination of the following instrumentalities, ViZz-wire feeding and cutting off devices; a carrier wheel d comprising two members slotted to receive the tooth blauks, and to convey the same in contact with an abrasive surface, and a friction wheel arranged between the said members and to act upon the tooth blanks to rotate the same in said carrier as they are moved in contact with the said abrasive surface, substantially as described.

20. In a machine for making combs, the combination of the following instrumentalities,

Vizz-wire feeding and cutting off devices; a carrier wheel d comprising two members slotted to receive the tooth blanks, and to convey the same in contact with an abrasive surface, and a friction wheel arranged between the said members and a belt to act upon the outside ot' said blanks, the said belt and friction Wheel acting to rotate the tooth blanks in the carrier as they are moved in contact with the said abrasive surface, substantially as described.

21. In a machine for making combs, the coinbination of the following instrumentalities, Viz:-wire feeding and cutting-off devices; a carrier wheel d to receive the tooth-blanks thus cut and to convey the same in contact with an abrasive surface, a friction wheel j, a rotating shaft a, and a wheel j? thereon in frictional contact with and to rotate the said wheel j, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN HENRY VELLS.

Witnesses:

GEO. W. GREGORY, EMMA J. BENNETT. 

